Beyond the turkey: our favorite Thanksgiving side dishes

Turkey gets all the attention at the Thanksgiving feast. But honestly, turkey can be kind of bland all on its own. It’s everything we callside dishesthat truly make Thanksgiving a delicious break from our usual weekly meal routine.

If you’re in the habit of opening a can of green beans and serving that as your side, you’re missing out on the flavor and nutrition of wholesome, fresh ingredients. We learned long ago that basic ingredients are the best, and that’s all we use in our bakery here atMother Rucker’s Sweets. So do yourself and your family a favor: throw out that box of instant mashed potatoes, put away your can opener and check out these side dish recipes this holiday season.

Mashed Potatoes
Cooking mashed potatoes is becoming a lost art. But this quick dish can be a nutritious extra if made from scratch, especially if you leave the skins on. Be sure to buy organic potatoes—potatoes absorb whatever they’re exposed to—and try outthis recipefor a side dish that just has to make an appearance at the Thanksgiving table.

If you want to take your mashed potatoes to the next level, trythis recipefor caramelized onion mashed potatoes, orthis recipefor chive and garlic mashed potatoes, which is like a creamy version of a baked potato with all the works.

Sweet Potato Fries
It’s the time of year when sweet potatoes make their appearance at farmers markets. Take advantage of the bounty of this vitamin A powerhouse and use them in any way you can. May we suggest the trendy sweet potato fry?This recipeshows you how to make sweet potato fries that are better and cheaper than the bags you’ll find in the freezer section of your grocery store. And yes, they’re just as fitting for Thanksgiving as the mushy version.

Green Beans with Slivered Almonds
Sooner or later, the green bean has to be worked into the Thanksgiving meal menu, so try out thischolesterol-free recipeof the classic side dish.

Cranberry Sauce
Not so much a side dish but still a Thanksgiving requirement, cranberry sauce is so much more than the gelatinous goop that comes from a cheap can.This recipeshows how to turn just four ingredients, including fresh cranberries, into a delicious and beautiful addition to your holiday table.

Buttermilk Biscuits
Don’t forget the bread. What’s a meal without that final half-dessert, half-side dish of fresh homemade biscuits? Try this recipeis for rich buttermilk biscuits, at that!